Grealish vs Diaz among key head-to-heads ahead of Man City-Liverpool
With the Premier League game of the season rapidly approaching, WhoScored take a look at the crunch head-to-heads as Manchester City gear up for the welcome of Liverpool today.
Ederson vs Alisson
The battle of the Brazilian shotstoppers, Ederson and Alisson have each conceded just 18 goals and kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League this season. There is little between the goalkeepers ahead of today's top of the table showdown at the Etihad Stadium. Of the 17 clean sheets Ederson has managed, eight have come in 13 appearances on home turf, with Crystal Palace, West Ham, Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester United the five teams to breach the Brazilian in Manchester.
That said, Ederson has kept just one clean sheet in the last three home league welcomes of Liverpool, while Alisson is yet to shut the City attack out at the Etihad in his Liverpool career. Both teams ranks first (Liverpool) and second (Manchester City) for goals scored in the Premier League this season, so the pair will have their work cut out today.
John Stones vs Joel Matip
In the absence of Ruben Dias, John Stones has filled the void alongside Aymeric Laporte at the heart of the Manchester City defence. Stones was so impressive alongside Dias at the back last term, yet injuries and a late return to pre-season following England's Euro 2020 campaign meant he lost his spot in the side to Laporte in the opening weeks of the season.
Stones has filled in at right-back on occasion this term, but he'll need to be at his very best to keep the likes of Mohamed Salah and co. quiet at the Etihad Stadium. Conversely, it won't be plain sailing for the Reds at the back either. Virgil van Dijk may be the star man in the Liverpool defence, but Joel Matip (7.31) is the best rated centre-back in the Premier League this season. The arrival of Ibrahima Konate may have threatened his spot in the side, yet Matip has taken the Frenchman's signing in his stride to take his game to another level.
Joao Cancelo vs Trent Alexander-Arnold
The two most consistent full-backs in the Premier League this season, both need to play at their peak at both ends of the pitch in order to help their side to victory. Joao Cancelo (7.46) has been a revelation at left-back for Pep Guardiola's side this season, capitalising on the wingers remaining wide to cut infield and chance his luck in the final third. Cancelo may have just one goal and five assists to his name, yet he is in the Premier League team of the season so far due to his consistency in both defence and attack.
🏴 Top rated players in the Premier League this season:
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 9, 2022
1️⃣ Mo Salah
2️⃣ 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗔𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗱
3️⃣ Kevin De Bruyne
4️⃣ 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗼
🤤 What a match-up we have on our hands. Click the image below for our analysis of the two full-backs #MCILIV 👇
The Portugal international's exploits are overshadowed by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who, with a WhoScored rating of 7.57, is the second best rated player in the Premier League this season. 11 assists is more than any other player, while only Bruno Fernandes (80) has made more key passes than Alexander-Arnold (77) in England's top tier this term. Able to play a defence splitting pass from deep with ease, the Liverpool star's vision will be key to prying apart this City backline.
Jack Grealish vs Luis Diaz
After his £100m arrival from Aston Villa, fans have perhaps expected more from Jack Grealish this season. With just two goals and two assists to his name, despite respective returns of two shots and 2.5 key passes per 90 in a City shirt in England's top tier, this season hasn't been a memorable one for Grealish yet, though that could all change over the coming weeks.
That Luis Diaz, though, has scored as many Premier league goals from six appearances as Grealish has in 20 speaks volumes of both the latter's lack of impact in front of goal and the former's adaptability. The Colombian joined from FC Porto in January and has taken to English football with ease. Indeed, a WhoScored rating of 7.53 is the best of all Premier League January arrivals and he'll hope to build upon that in what will be his toughest test of the campaign so far.
